2025 Open Championship: Time for the last 9 holes

Posted on July 16, 2025
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Time for the final and grandest major of the year. Welcome to The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, one of the finest links courses across the globe.

Don’t panic and get on with those PICKS in.

With less than 24 hours to go before the first tee time of the major, the course has been tested by players and caddies alike. The rough is up, the course is going to play tough, compounded by the weather, but the crowds will be flocking in with record numbers expected!



We know the players are prepped and like us, eager to get things cracking in the hunt for the Claret Jug. Its going to be an epic adventure on a seriously tough test at Portrush.



The first tee shot belongs to a group of slect group including a former two-time Champion Golfer of the Year in Padraig and local hero McKibben, who sandwiched the late-qualifying Hojgaard who will all feel quite at home in squally conditions! They will lead us off at 6:35am local time.



The Open Pairings
The Tee times were released earlier today and there are some great pairings to get stuck into. Nothing gnarly, but lots of banter and a great spread of enjoyment.
Ryder Cuppers: Rory, TommyLad, JT
The Defenders: X, JJ, (& Rahmbo)
Open Champs: Lowry, Collin, Scottie
Elder statesmen: Scotty, Rickie, The Fang(a)
College Studs: Jordan, ABerg, The Hov
US Open Champs: JRose, BDC, (& Bobby Mac)



There are a few other fun pairings with a mix of mini battles scattered throughout.

Your Picks
Prep time was hopefully put to good use, but now is the time to commit, visualise and execute. Make those PICKS now.

Top Bucket: The form list is clear and its laced with Scottie & Rory over and over, especially considering the expected conditions. It will be a tough chase for the other 8, though to win 2 majors in a year is not easy in the same light, which they are both chasing.



2nd Bucket: Have to like the chances of the in-form ball-striking MadHatter who came close last major at Oakmont, but what about Griffin who has top 10s in 2 consecutive majors!

3rd Bucket: A tougher batch, needing to find 2 in here, with so much competition! Do you go with debutant Harry Hall or the experienced Jordan who has a penchant for consistent top 10 performances? Of course, veterans like Scotty or JDay have also been consistently good.



Bottom Bucket: Pick your poison, calling all pockets, all options are open. The list is endless. JRose found some form, Cambo is a former champ and played well here in 2019 or Other Cam is also trending nicely and where his ball-striking prowess a serious weapon at Portrush.

With all this in mind, it's time to focus on your PICKS.



Need some help? History repeats itself so sneak a look at the leaderboard of the 2023 Open or the 2024 Open leaderboards.

For an in-depth analysis of the top candidates, check out GOLF DIGEST and POWER RANKINGS for this Open Championship examination.



Check out the trends on DATA GOLF RANKINGS, which also drives our buckets.

Head to majorpunter for some other other interesting views and angles we have tracked for The Open.

Take on your mates
Time to get stuck into your majorpunter PICKS. As always, the more the merrier so send this on to the other golf fans in your life to get them involved and swell the winner's purse!

Remember we have Side Pots for punters to directly compete with each other’s friends, families, colleagues, local clubs, whatever you feel necessary. Give it a try and maybe get some side wagers going!



LIVE SCORING will be up and running on the site for all punters to see where they stand in real time. We are constantly looking to improve so keep us updated on some new trends that we might have missed.

Reminder of the majorpunter rules, with a no-subs option, but having 6 picks including 2 wildcards. See the RULES on the site, which also include a no-sympathy approach to players withdrawing once the first tee shot has gone off.

Here’s looking forward to an action-packed Open Championship, with lots of trials and tribulations, joy and despair, come wind, rain or shine.

Remember to ensure your teams are entered and paid before the first tee off time which is 6:35am Local time.

Remember to ensure your teams are entered and paid before the first tee off time wherever you might be around the globe.